Get Ready for Your Open House

February 26, 2015

It’s time to sell your home! That means it’s time to show it off to potential buyers. Here are a few keys to making your Open House a success.

First things first: think like a buyer. What is it about your home that would make a buyer want to move in at first sight? Ask your real estate agent for some help visualizing how to make your home more appealing to the next one down the block. Potential buyers are likely going to walk through a lot of homes before they decide to make an offer. Why will they look at yours and say, “This is the one”?

Remember: your yard makes the first impression. Curb appeal is essential to making your home appear inviting. So pay close attention to the grass, trees, bushes, landscaping, and everything that’s green. Planting a few flowers can make a huge difference before your potential buyers ever walk through the front door.

Let go of your stuff. If you’ve lived in your home for a long time, chances are you’ve accumulated a lot of clutter. Imagine that you’re a potential buyer who’s trying to imagine moving in. If he or she can’t see past all the stuff, it’ll be tough to think of your home as theirs. So declutter your home as much as possible—and that includes your basement and garage.

“Depersonalize” your home. You want potential buyers to see your home as theirs (not yours). So put away family pictures, trophies, and even religious items. Removing personal items from the refrigerator door (artwork, to-do lists) is a good idea as well.

Start scrubbing! Nothing’s more impressive than a spotless and well-maintained home. More than vacuuming and dusting, really dig in and clean every corner, the windows (both sides) and drapes. Shampoo the carpeting, if you need to.

Fix the small stuff. Dripping faucets, missing light bulbs and broken switches can all make a bad impression. So can dirty or dingy walls, so give them a fresh coat of paint.

Do a final walk-through with your real estate agent. Did you miss anything that might make your home more appealing than the next? Remember, potential buyers will only take a few minutes to decide if your home feels right for them. So make those few minutes count!